Vehicle wheel



H.- NlcHoLs I VEHICLE WHEEL Oct.` 11,1927.

Filed May 21, 192s 2 sheets-snm 1 1,645,395 H. NICHOLS l Filed May 21,1923 2 sheets-sheer 2 Patented Oct. l1, 1927.

g 1,645,395 PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY NICHOLS, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

Application filed May 21,

This invention is a vehicle wheel of the type having means substitutedfor the standard pneumatic tire to absorb road `and other shocksimparted to the wheel while in operation.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a wheel of simpleconstruction.y which will have all of the beneficial advantages of awheel equipped with the standard pneumatic tire, and. vyetnot besubjected to the inconveniences which usually result from punctures andblow-outs. A- further object is to provide a wheel formed of separablesections, having means whereby a shoe similar to that of a standardpneu-' matic tire may be secured thereto, and means within the shoe fortransmitting the road shocks around the same, the construction beingsuch that the shoe will not collapse if punctured, whereby it may beworn almost completely through without danger of failure to sustain theload. A further object is to provide a pneumatic lcushion of maximumcapacity for the tire, so positioned that it will not be exposed to wearor contact with the road bed, and means interposed between the same andthe tire shoe to carry the road shocks around the wheel, whereby theweight of the load is stabilized and a perfect balancing of thecushioning functions is insured. A further object is to provide means tolincrease the resiliency at the tire shoe.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularlypointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a side elevation partly insection illustrating a wheel constructed in accordance with theinvention. Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view with the hub nutremoved. Figure 3 isa vertical sectional view illustrating thearrangement of the .con-y volute equalizing members. Figure 4 is adetail fragmentary view illustrating a portion of the equalizings ringwhich contacts with the pneumatic cus ion. Figure 5 is a detail viewillustrating a portion of the convolute spring. Figure y6 is a plan viewillus'- trating the tread equalizing spring.

Referring to the drawing, 10 designates the main wheel body section,provided with a central enlargement forming a hub 11,

1923. Serial No. 4640,435.

ing complemental to the boss 12, co-operates with section 10, to formthe wheel body, theY two sections being clamped together by means ofbolts 14, passed through coinciding openings in the rim portions 15, andalso by means of a nut- 16 working on the threaded lboss 12. The hub 11and the rim portions 15 are so shaped that when the two wheel sectionsare united, an annular chamber 17, of relatively large volume, is formedbetween the hub and the rim.

The peripheries of the rim portions 15 are provided with shoulders 18,produced by intersecting radial and transversecylindrical surfaces,forming seats for the beads 19 of matic tire shoe but somewhat'different in shape. The tire is retained in place by means of clampingrings 21 pressed against the outer edges of the beads 19 and heldinplace by the bolts 14, said rings having flanges 21L shaped to enterannular grooves 19a-in thebeads 19, and of a length to overlap thecylindrical portions ofy the shoulders 18. Located within the shoe 2O isa band-like tread-equalizing spring 2 2, provided with segmentalpad-like members 23, shaped to conform to the internal contour of theshoe. Bearing against the spring 22 is a convolute equalizing'member 24,the convolutions of which extend from the spring 22 through a reducedannular opening 25 formed by complemental inwardly offset 'registeringportions of the rims of the wheel sections 1l) and 18. Located withinthe chamber 17 is an annular-pneumatic cushion 26, which may be inflatedin suitable manner through a valve 27, the stem of which extends throughan opening' in one of the wheel sections. Interposed between theconvolute member 24 and the cushion 26, and encircling the periphery ofthe'latter, is a band-like equalizing spring 28.

The convolute bearing member may be constructed of one continuous piece,but it 1s preferred to construct itin a plurality of sections, asillustrated in the drawing,a the convolutions being of approximate-lyequi-v lateral shapein side view,"so`as to provide acute angled bendswith maximum bearing surfaces against the equalizing rings 22 and 28.Eaehfse'etion terminates in a straight radially `disposed portion, whichbears. against a spacer block 29,*a plurality of said blocks beinginterposed betwe'nthe sections 1 0 and. :1.3, and serving as authoringdevices for the springs. The outer curved portions of the convolutemembers bear against the equalizing spring 22 and the inner curvedportions ol*A said members bear against the equalizing spring 28, thelast mentioned spring resting upon the shoulders formed by the inwardlyoi'iset portions ot the Wheel members 101 and 13. For the purpose ofpreventing relative lateral play between the spring 28 and therespective convolute sections, each ofthe. latter is provided withgrooved portions 30, which interlock With a rib 31 formed on the spring-28.

In ractice, the cushion 26 is inflated to the desired pressure,approximating the pressure of the standard pneumatic tire, through thevalve 27 by means o1. any suitable inflating apparatus. When the Wheelis without load the air pressure Within the cushion 26, acting againstthe equalizing spring .28,Will force the convolute equaliz- Y, ingmembers 24 outwardly in a radial di- A rectlon, and thereby maintain thetire shoe in a distended condition, by reason of the pressure of saidconvolute equalizing member against the equalizing spring 22. When theWheel is under load, the spring 22 tends to force the convoluteequalizing member 24- i-nwvardly, and this pressure is equalized at theshoe 2O by means of the spring 22, in much the same manner as thestandard pneumatic tire distributes the load, The acute angle bends ofthe equalizing members 24, serve to make said members more sensitivetothe inward pressures and shocks, and to more equally and resilientlydistribnte the shocks around the Wheel. At the same time the tire shoeis maintained in its properlyV distended condition. The inwardl pressureot the convolute equalizing members upon the spring 28, causes thelatter to react against the pneumatic cushion, and to distribute theload around the same in a manner Well understood in the art. At the sametime the convolutions of the members 24 tend to also carry the s `rainsaround the Wheel `is provided, so constructed that the' parts may bereadily separated it desired for repairs and the like. To separate thesections, it is only necessary tov remove the' clamping rings 21 and thenut 16, andi theparts are all released and ready to falli apart. Afurther advantage is that by placinfr the pneumatic cushion 26 betweenthe w 'eelsections 10 and'` 13, so that it Will not bel exposed todirect contact with extraneous substances, all of the advantages ot thestandard` pneumatic tire are obtained and yet the inconveniences Whichnormally result trom exposure to punctures and blowouts are avoided. Notonly this true, but the shoe may be Worn almost completely throughWithout danger of collapse because it is sustained by the convoluteequalizing member and the annular equalizing springs between which it isinterposed, and therefore any Vair leaksV in the shoe can have no effectWhatever upon the cushioning characteristics of the Wheel. By means ofthe anchoring blocks 29 the lsections oithe convolute member are held inplace, and said blocks at the same time-prevent undue pressure upon theequalizing member, Whichl otherwise would tend to cramp the movement ofthe latter when the sections 10 and 13 are clamped together, therebyinsuring enough space between the wheel sections to permit the convolutemember to have free- -radial reciprocation under the road shocks. Byreason of the triangular shape of the tire-securing rings with flangesshaped to enter complemental grooves in the tire beads, a simple means1s provided by Which the tire is securely locked in position, butpermitting ready removal thereof. No claim isV made herein fory thesubject-matter described and claimed in Letters Patent 1,506,602,granted August 26, 1924.

l Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described anvoperative manner of constructingand using the same, although Withoutattempting tof set forth all oi the forms in which it may be made, orall of the forms of its use, what is claimed is 1. A Wheel of thecharacter described coinprising a main body member, a disk-likesupplemental body member, means separately uniting said body members, apneumatic cushion located between said body members, a tire slice, meansretaining the tire shoe in position, and ai convolute equalizing memberinterposed between saidl cushion' and said shoe and rea-,ctir10against'both, all oi the convolutions of member being ot approximatelyequilateral triangular shape in side vieiv and having bearing portionsconcentric with andV reacting against said p'enuma'tic` cushion.

' 2. A; `Wheel' of the character described comprising amain body member,a disk-like supplemental body member, a pneumatic cushion locatedbetween said body members, a tire shoe, means cooperating with said bodymembers to retain the tire shoe in position, a band-like equalizingspring encircling said cushion, and a-n equalizing member guided d eqnalizin between the wheel members and interposed between said equalizingspring and said shoe, so as to react against both the shoe and thepneumatic cushion.

3. A wheel of the character described comprising a main body member, adisk-like supplemental bod member, means separately uniting said odymembers a pneumatic cushion located between said body members, a tireshoe, means retaining the tire shoe in position, and a convoluteequalizing member interposed between said cushion and said shoe andreacting against both, all of the convolutions of said equalizing memberbeing of approximately triangular shape in side view and having bearingportions concentric with said pneumatic cushion, said convolute memberbeing formed of separable sections, the extremities of said sectionshaving anchoring portions.

4. A wheel of the character described comprising a main body member, adisk-like supplemental body member, a pneumatic cushion located betweensaid body members, a

r ltire shoe, means retaining the tire shoe in position, anchoringblocks interposed between the respective body members, and a convoluteequalizing member guided between the wheel members and interposedbetween the cushionand said shoe, so as to react against both, saidconvolute member` being formed of separable sections with all of theconvolutions thereof. of approximately equilateral triangular shape inside View, the extremities of said sections having radially extendedanchoring portions positioned to engage said blocks.

5. A wheel of the character described comprising a main body memberhaving a4 cen trally disposed laterally extended boss, a disk-likesupplemental body member having an opening complemental to said boss,said body members cooperating to provide a chamber surrounding saidboss, a pneumatic cushion located within said chamber, a tire shoeengaging the peripheries of said body members, means cooperating withsaid body members for retaining said tire shoe-in position, a band-likeequalizing spring encircling said cushion, and a resilient equalizingmember guided between the wheel members and interposed between saidspring and said shoe, so as to react against both.

6. A wheel of the character described comprising a main body memberhaving a centrally disposed laterally extended boss, a disk-likesupplemental body member having an opening complemental to said boss,said body members cooperating to provide a chamber surrounding the boss,a pneumatic cushion located within said chamber, a tire shoe secured tothe periphery of said body members, an equalizing member guided betweenthe wheel members and interposed between said cushion and said shoe, soas to react against both, and a tread equalizing spring interposedbet-Ween the equalizing m-ember and the shoe and provided with segmentalpads bearing against the inner surface of the tread portionV of saidshoe.

7. A wheel of the character described coms prising a mainbody memberhaving a eentrally disposed laterally extended boss, a disk-likesupplemental body member having an opening complemental to said boss,said body members having offset portions forming shoulders andcooperating to provide a chamber surrounding said boss, a pneumaticcushion located within said chamber, a tire shoe secured to theperipheries of said body members, a band-like equalizing memberencircling said cushion and resting upon the shoulders of the bodymembers, and an equalizing member guided between the body members andinterposed between said spring and said shoe so as to react againstboth.

8. The combination with a wheel bod formed of separable sections theperipheries of which are provided with intersecting radial plane andtransverse cylindrical surfaces forming seats, a tire-shoe having beadsprovided with surfaces complemental to said seats, clamp rings forretaining said tireshoe in position, said rings having inwardly offsetengaging portions overlapping said seats, and means enclosed by saidsections for maintaining said shoe in distended relation.

9. The combination with a wheel body formed of separable sections, theperipheries of which are provided with intersecting radial plane andtransverse cylindrical sur? faces forming seats, a tire shoe havingbeads provided with surfaces complemental to said seats, clamp rings forretaining said tire shoe in position, said rings having inwardly oli'setengaging portions overlapping said seats, and means enclosed by saidbody sections for maintaining said tire-shoe in distended relation, thewidth of said tire shoe being substantially greater than the depththereof. Y

In testimony whereof I have hereunto setmy hand.

HENRY NICHOLS.

